Apparatus for determining the amount of moisture in cheese and the like.



J. W. MITCHELL & W. 0. WALKER.

APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF MOISTURE IN CHEESE AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION TILED MAR. 14, 1908.

920,773. Patented May 4,1909.

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I 1a 1 0 16' Hi UNITED STATllltl illdl ll lllll JOEL WALTER MITCHELL ANDWILLIAM OSCAR- WALKER, OF KINGSTON, ONTARIO, CANADA.

APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF MOISTURE IN CHEESE AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 14, 1908.

Patented May 4:, 1909.

Serial No. 421,279.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOEL WALTER T'sIITGII ELL and /VILLIAM OSCARWALKER, subjects of the King of Great Britain, residing at the city ofKingston, in the Province of Ontario and Dominion of Canada, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forDetermining the Amount of incisture in Cheese and the Like; and we dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improved apparatus for evaporating,condensing, collecting and measuring the moisture contained in butter,cheese or any other substance.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of thisimproved apparatus set up ready for operation. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the small receptacle for the cheese or butter to be tested,detached; and Fig. 3 is a view of the separate graduated glass tube orreceptacle for the condensed moisture.

In the embodiment illustrated, a support is shown preferably in the formof a box 1, in which the various parts of the invention may be packedfor storage or shipment. A small block or disk of metal 2 having ascrew-threaded orifice therein, is fixed to the cover of this box, inany suitable manner and is adapted to receive the screw-threaded end ofa light metal standard or post designed to support the various parts ofthe apparatus. A thumb-screw 3, adapted to screw upon the threaded end 4of the standard 5 serves to lock the standard in any position when it isset up. The standard is preferably hollow or bored to receive the bentend of a horizontal arm 6 to the end of which a metal cylinder 7 isfixed in a vertical )osition and adapted to be filled with cool waterthrough a convenient opening 8. Fixed to this cylinder and passingvertically through it, with its lower end extending below the cylinder,is a tube 9 preferably made of block tin. The end of this tube above thecylinder is preferably curved and terminates in a dome 10 which is fixedto the cylinder 7 by brackets 12 and serves as a cover for a metal cupor receptacle 13. This cup 13 may be attached to the cover 10 in anysuitable manner, friction, for instance, being suflicient to hold it inplace, but it is preferably connected, as shown, the dome or cover 1.0being screw-threaded on its lower end at 11 to receive a correspondinglyscrewtl readed end of the cup 13, a shoulder 14 on the cup providing atight joint when the cup is screwed in place.

A spirit lamp 15 is preferably attached by an arm 16 telescopicallyconnected with an arm 17 connected by a rotatable coupling 18 to thestandard 5. llhis arm is adapted as shown in. Fig. 1, to revolvehorizontally around the standard into any desired posi tion, and at thesame time to be extended as far as necessary while it may also be raisedor lowered on the standard to any desired height. 11 will be found thatfriction will generally sullice to hold the lamp in any position inwhich it may be placed, but a sim ple device 19, consisting of a doublecoil of stiff wire around the standard with free ends adapted to beeasily pressed together so as to loosen the coil, will preferably serveas a rest for the lamp arm or bracket to hold it at any desired height.

l 'ixed to the bottom of the cylinder 7 are laterally spaced wirebrackets 20 adapted to receive the neck of a graduated glass receptacle21, (shown enlarged in Fig. 3) and. at the lower end of which astop-cock 22 is arranged to provide for the contents being readily drawnoff. This receptacle is preferably so graduated that the figuresarranged vertically on the scale will indicate the percentage wei ht ofwater found in certain weight of butter, cheese or other substanceplaced in the receptacle 13 but other methods of graduating may beadopted. The box 1 is also adapted to hold a small and convenient pairof scales which may be set up on the cover of the box for the purpose ofweighing the required quantity of butter or cheese.

The requisite quantity of material is first Weighed and placed in thecup 13 and if desired a )roper quantity of a suitable reagent,preferably insoluble in water, or nearly so, may be added to facilitatethe process. The cup 13 is then screwed tightly into the cover 10, andthe lamp 15 is lighted and adjusted in a proper position below the cupand moved as may be required to provide the desired temperature, thewater cylinder or jacket 7 having first been filled with cold water, andthe glass receptacle 21 placed in position beneath the end of the tube9. The moisture in the cheese or butter then evaporates and passesthrough the tube 9, condensing in its passage through the portion of thetube in the water jacket 7 and accumulates in the receptacle 21. hen theoperation is COHb pleted, a reading of the scale on the tube 21 willindicate the percentage Weight 01" evaporated water.

We are aware that other testing devices for ascertaining the amount ofwater in cheese or butter are in use, but we claim that our apparatus isessentially different being simple in construction, easy to manufacture,accurate of results, durable and readily cleaned.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to protect by Letters Patent,is

In an apparatus for testing the amount of water contained in butter,cheese or other substances, the combination of a supporting standardhaving a laterally extending arm, a water containing vessel mounted onsaid arm, a condensing tube passing through said vessel and projectingat opposite ends there of, the upper end being curved downwardly,

a dome-shaped member carried by the free end of said bent upper portionand communicating with said tube, a cylindrical receptacle forcontaining the substance to be tested detachably connected with saiddome shaped member in air tight relation thereto, a revoluble armextending laterally from said standard and vertically adjustablethereon, a lamp having a laterally extending arm for telescopicengagement with said revoluble arm to provide for the adjustment of saidlamp below said receptacle, a moisture col-- lecting vessel supportedbelow the lower end of said. condensing tube and comprising a smallgraduated tube having a bulb-like upper end provided. with a flaredmouth and means for closing said flared mouth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

WALTER MITCHELL. WILLIAM OSCAR WALKER. fitnesses SYDENHAR O. MOGILL,JOHN SHARP.

